Executive Order 09-17

WHEREAS, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (“Recovery Act”) presents the State of Missouri the opportunity to create jobs, improve infrastructure and transform our economy for the 21st century; and

WHEREAS, Executive Order 09-12 created the Transform Missouri Initiative which has been staffed by personnel from various executive branch departments; and

WHEREAS, the Transform Missouri Initiative has been working diligently to identify programs and projects that could benefit from the Recovery Act; and

WHEREAS, the State of Missouri is committed to administering the Recovery Act in a prudent manner that strictly adheres to principles of accountability and transparency; and

WHEREAS, the federal government has issued and will continue to promulgate regulations and guidance concerning the implementation of the Recovery Act; and

WHEREAS, the State of Missouri is beginning the process of submitting applications, certifications and other necessary documents to federal agencies to access available funds under the Recovery Act; and

WHEREAS, the State of Missouri is committed to dedicating all necessary resources and expertise to maximize Missouri access to and results from Recovery Act funding and to ensure that the compliance requirements of the Recovery Act are met.

NOW THEREFORE, I, JEREMIAH W. (JAY) NIXON, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the constitution and laws of the State of Missouri do hereby create the Transform Missouri Project (“Project”).

Paul Wilson is appointed Director of the Project and will have supervisory authority over all aspects of its operations. The Office of Administration will provide administrative support to the Project.

The personnel assigned to the Transform Missouri Initiative pursuant to Executive Order 09-12 are hereby transferred to the Transform Missouri Project under the supervision of the Director. These individuals will constitute the implementation unit within the Project.

The Taxpayer Accountability, Compliance and Transparency Unit is hereby created within the Transform Missouri Project under the supervision of the Director. The Unit will be comprised of personnel from the following executive branch departments:

Office of Administration
Department of Agriculture
Department of Corrections
Department of Economic Development
Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Department of Health and Senior Services
Department of Insurance, Financial Institutions and Professional Registration
Department of Labor and Industrial Relations
Department of Mental Health
Department of Natural Resources
Department of Public Safety
Department of Revenue
Department of Social Services
Department of Transportation

The Director of each of the aforementioned executive branch departments will assign at least one individual with training and experience in fiscal management and compliance to this unit. The Unit will identify all compliance and certification requirements under the Recovery Act and develop procedures that satisfy those compliance and certification directives and ensure that the State of Missouri administers the Recovery Act in a transparent manner. The Commissioner of Administration will appoint a Certification Coordinator responsible for reviewing applications and compliance documentation.

Executive branch departments will coordinate all Recovery Act program applications, administration and expenditures through the Transform Missouri Project and will assign additional personnel to the Project when deemed necessary by the Director.

The Transform Missouri Project will exist until terminated by subsequent Executive Order.

Executive Order 09-12 is hereby rescinded.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused to be affixed the Great Seal of the State of Missouri, in the City of Jefferson, on this 31st day of March, 2009.